WHEREAS, violence continues to be the greatest gender inequality rights issue for women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals; and

WHEREAS, November is Woman Abuse Prevention Month; and

WHEREAS, Femicide rates are on the rise in Ontario, with over 40 femicides between November 2021- November 2022; and

WHEREAS, Our community is committed to ending femicide and all forms of gender-based violence; and

WHEREAS, Indigenous, Black, South Asian and South East Asian women and girls continue to experience high rates of violence, including femicide and were overrepresented within the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses’ 2020-2021 Annual Femicide List; and

WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased barriers to support and services for survivors of gender-based violence and their children; and

WHEREAS, last year in Ontario, on average every 8 days a woman or child was killed by a man known to them; and

WHEREAS, this month and throughout the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, we acknowledge our community’s support of the Wrapped in Courage campaign and commitment to ending gender-based violence; and

WHEREAS, on November 25th, The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the 10th Anniversary of the Wrapped in Courage campaign across Ontario, for the recognition that the courage of a woman alone is not enough, it takes an entire community to end gender-based violence; and

Now, therefore, I, Ken Boshcoff, Mayor of the City of Thunder Bay, proclaim that November 25th, 2022, shall be known as “The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women” in the City of Thunder Bay, and urge all citizens to recognize this day by taking action to support survivors of gender-based violence and becoming part of Ontario wide efforts to end gender-based violence.